"The impending relaxation of the licensing laws has hardly been greeted with the jubilation that the government hoped. The police fear a rise in crime (and their workload), while judges give warning of 'an inevitable explosion in alcohol-fuelled violence' ... There is no doubt we have a problem in this country in the way we drink alcohol. Last year, 48% of violent crime was linked to alcohol, as were almost three-quarters of weekend A&E cases ...

"Extending the licensing laws may indeed stretch the police in some areas, and increase disorderly and offensive behaviour, in which case the police must act. Publicans already have responsibility for maintaining an orderly house; if there is constant trouble outside a particular pub or bar, then the licensing authorities should close it down. But each town, city or county should be able to choose measures that work for it. Giving communities the power to set licensing hours is far better than a rigid law that treats everyone as a potential lager lout."

Daily EchoEditorial, Liverpool, August 10

"The UK's infamous binge culture, where lawyers report 'a gallon of beer is common, 12 pints by no means rare', makes a mockery of those who argue that the November law change will be replaced by a new culture of continental style drinking.

"If the government continues on its blinkered course, the public can at least keep their eyes open. Applications for pub hours extensions are published in legal notices in newspapers and at council offices. Vigilance is the answer, so make sure your opposition is heard before it's too late. Otherwise, night-time tranquillity could be shattered by the prospect of 4am brawls."

Yorkshire PostEditorial, August 11

"The reason that licensing laws became restrictive in the first place is that drunkenness was rife, and it is surely the height of naivety to believe that changing the law will, by itself, turn binge-drinkers into moderate drinkers. The judges certainly have their doubts.

"The new drinking regime, however, may yet be less menacing than they think, for a significant number of licensees have yet to be persuaded that being open all hours will make them any money. The costs will be considerable and unless the industry reacts more favourably, some of the predicted problems will remain hypothetical."

Daily MirrorEditorial, August 11

"Tony Blair can hardly claim he was not warned of the binge-drinking problems relaxation of licensing laws would bring. Police, judges, MPs and local councils queued up to say all-day drinking would lead to an explosion of the booze-fuelled violence we see in our towns and cities.

"The idea that relaxing the laws would turn us into a Mediterranean culture where we drink one glass of wine over a meal was laughable ... Britain's drink-crazed youngsters' ambition on the weekends and on their holidays is to drink as much as possible as quickly as possible. This is the British disease ... The laws have been pushed through with little thought about the long-term impact. Now is the time for them to be delayed."

Maxine FrithIndependent, August 11

"Criticisms of the new law ... are fallacious. The number of pubs that have applied for a 24-hour licence has not even reached double figures, and ... while 90% of the 47,000 pubs in England and Wales have applied for an extension of their drinking hours from November, the vast majority have merely asked for an extra hour or two on Fridays, weekends and public holidays ...

"This is not to excuse the unacceptable, violent and antisocial behaviour that is inextricably linked with binge drinking, particularly among young men. But the current, rigid laws are fuelling these problems, not resolving them."